Burial apparatus.



PATENTBD OCT. 18, 1903.

J; E. LAWRENCE. BURIAL APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED 001'. 20. 1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1- N0 MODEL.

m; uonms P ETER cg. 99401001940" WASNINDYDN o c PATENTED 001*. 13,-1903.

J. E. LAWRENCE. BURIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 20. 1902. I

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

k E I Q iw THE wonms PETERS 55,-, vhomumu. awswws'ruu. a. c.

PATENTED 001. 13-, 1903;

-- J. B. LAWRENCE.

BURIAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 20. 1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET s.

.10 MODEL.

a \QEQQEEQEQQA PATENTED OCT. 13, 1903.

J. E. LAWRENCE- BURIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00120. 1902.

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NO MODEL.

3] u center QRM masses THE NORRIS PEIERS coy. morouwa. WASHINGTON 04 c,

No. 741,583. PATENTED 001. 13, 1903..

J. E, LAWRENCE.

.BURIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 20. 1902. N0 MODEL. SHEETS-SHEET 5L' 1 Hoznus no."raises. I

UNITE STATES rammed October 13, 190:5.

Y PAT -ENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. LAWRENCE, or WOLOOTT, NE YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FLORIDA E.LAWRENCE, OFWOLCOTT, NEW YORK.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

srEGxEIcATIoN i orming part of Lette jl tent No. 741,583, dated October13, 1903.

' Application filed October 20,1902. Serial No. l27,996. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom, it may concerit:

Be it known that I, JosEPH LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wolcott, in the county of Wayne and State of New York, haveinvented a new and'useful Burial Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification. r Y r This invention relates generally to burialapparatuses, and has for its object to provide a device by means ofwhich a cofiln or casket can be lowered into the grave by means of oneman, who can also regulate the speed of descent.

A further object of my invention is to provide an adjustable frame, sothat the device can be quickly and easily adjusted to fit aroundvarious-size graves and to accommodate caskets of difierentsizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which shall beornamental in its character, and thereby relieve the graveopening of itsgruesome aspect.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a suitable case inwhich the apparatus can be conveniently packed and carried as a part ofthe undertakers'ou tfit.

With these and certain other objects in view, as will hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the novel features of construction,combination, or arrangement, all of which will be fully describedhereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is aperspectiveview showing my invention as applied to a grave. Fig. 2 is aview showing one end of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a view showing one corner of the ornamen tal screen beingsetin place, said screen being omitted from the other views. Fig. 4 is ahorizontalsectional view taken through one end of the apparatus,disclosing the operating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectionalview on the line5 5 of Fig. 4:. .Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line6 6 of Fig. 4.. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the operating-lever .andtreadle connected therewith. Fig. 8 is an inverted plan view of the saidtreadle.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9 9 of Fig. 11. Fig. 10 is adetail view of the detachable ,tension device. Fig. 11 is a view, partlyin section and partly in elevation,

detached from the said supporting-strap. Fig.

13 is a view illustrating the sectional supporting-bar adapted to rollon and. support the coffin or casket prior'to being deposited upon thesupportin g-straps by means of which it is lowered into-the grave. Fig.14. is a plan view of the said sectional supporting-bar. Fig. 15 is aview of the entire apparatus arranged in the case. Fig. 16 is a detailperspective view of the lever employed for operating the loweringmechanism to raise or adjust the latter. Fig. 17 is an enlargedelevation, partly broken away, of the operatinglever, showing in dottedlines the position of the several parts when the latch is disengagedfrom the segment. Fig. 18 is an enlarged detail section drawn on aboutthe line 18 18 of Fig. 17, and Fig. 19 shows detail of the several partsshown in Figs. 17 and 18.

In carrying out my invention I employ an adjustable rectangular frame A,which is adapted to be supported upon brackets B, arranged adjacent tothe edge of the grave, so that the said frame will surround the graveand will be held a slight distance above the mound of the same, as mostclearly indicated in Fig. 2. The adjustable frame A is preferablyconstructed of tubular metal material and comprises telescopic sidemembers A, telescopic end member A at one end, and a telescopic member Aat the opposite end. The end members A and A each havetubularconnections A which are arranged at right angles to the members A and Aand adjacent to their ends, said tubular connections serving to receivethe end sections of the side members A. 7

By arranging the end and side members of the frame to telescope, asdescribed, the frame can be readily adjustedto encircle the grave,

' it being only necessary to pull upon orpress in upon the said members,when they will readily slide within one another until the required sizeis obtained, after which the members are securely fastened by thethumbscrews 0., as shown in Figs. 1 and 15 of the drawings.

A spool C is arranged centrally within the tubular member A said spoolhaving a tubular shaft 0 rigidly connected thereto, and surrounding thesaid spool is a strip of leather C and embracing the said leather stripis a metallic brake-band C one end of which is rigidly connected to ashaft 0 the end of which projects through the tubular member A A sleeveC is arranged upon this shaft 0 and is adapted to turn thereon, theinner end of the said sleeve being threaded and adapted to engage thethreaded portion of the said shaft, so that when the sleeve is turned inone direction the brake-band will be tightened upon the leather stripand will be loosened when moved in a reverse direction. Shafts D arefitted into the tubular shaft 0'. Said shafts D extend in oppositedirections and pass through suitable filling-plugs E, said shafts havingratchet-wheels E at their outer ends, which are adapted to be engaged bythe pawls E said pawls and ratchet being protected by the cap-piece Earranged upon the end of the member A. These caps E are removable, sothat the shafts may be engaged and operated by a ratchet-lever E, Fig.16, which is adapted to be slipped upon the ratchets E and operated foradjusting or rewinding the cables by hand and raising the casket outwhenever it should be found necessary.

Each shaft D has a drum F mounted thereon, said drum being arrangedopposite the tubular extension A, and passing around the said drums arethe cables G and H, the cable G passing over guide-pulleys G and thecable H over a guide-pulley H, said guide-pulleys being mounted upon athreaded shaft H so that as the cable is wound or unwound the saidpulleys will move, along the threaded shaft, so as to properly place thecables upon the drum F. The cable G passes around the guide-rollers Gcarried in the tubular extension A adjacent to the member A and outthrough openings G produced in the sides of said extensions A. The cableH passes out. through the extension A, through the side members A, andout through an opening H produced in the tubular extension A connectedto an end memberA These cables G and H pass over a horizontal roller I,carried by a curved plate I, having hooks 1, adapted to engage openingsproduced in the side of the said extensions A and each curved plate Ihas an adjustable tension which is regulated by means of a screw 1 andwingnut 1 said tension-plate being adapted to bear upon the cable as itpasses over the roller I, and by tightening or loosening the winged nutI the tension can be increased or decreased, as desired, preventingrecoils. The outer end of each cable has an anchor-block K connectedthereto, said blocks having springs K connected to their upper ends.Each anchor-block K is also provided with two laterally-extendingportions K which are adapted to engage the cam-shaped heads K of thecatches K which are adapted to engage the end pieces K of the supportingstraps or webs K, and it should be stated here that these straps or websare preferably constructed of leather and have their ends firmly rivetedbetween the end pieces K". The heads K of the catches K are pivotedwithin a housingK, through which the cables pass, and it will be notedthat when any weight is placed upon the supporting-straps and thecatches engage the end pieces K the springs K are compressed and theheads K engage the lateral extensions K The moment, however, the weightor tension is removed the springs K throw the anchors or blocks Kdownwardly, releasing the heads K and throwing the catches'K out ofengagement with the end pieces K and when thus released the straps maybe readily withdrawn from under the casket, it of course beingunderstood that only one end of the straps are released; but forappearances both ends are made to simulate each other. The sleeve C hasa squared spindle-shaped outer end, to which a ratchet-wheel L having abore to fit said spindle, is attached. The wheel L has a hub L to whichside plates of levers are pivotally or revolubly connected. Between saidlever-arm plates are the two pawls L, pivotally hung and adapted toengage the wheel L thus connecting said lever-arm L to wheel L The pawlsare pivoted adjacent each other and intermediate their ends, their endportions diverging, their innerends engaging teeth on the wheel L Thefree end of said lever-arm carries a rack-segment L, which is adapted tobe engaged at different points on the segment by a spring-actuated pawlL arranged upon the under side of the treadle L pivoted to a bracketLflextending downwardly from the outer end of the shaft C. Aspringactuated bolt or pawl L has an upwardly-extending heel-piece Lagainst which the heel can be placed for the purpose of withdrawing thebolt or pawl out of engagement with the rack-segment L, and by means ofthis bolt or pawl when engaged and the treadle I am enabled to move thelever-arm L up or down, therebyincreasing or decreasing the pressureupon the brake-band, and consequently regulating the speed of descent.

The lever L comprises two plates bolted together, one of said platesbeing broken away in Fig. 17 to show the mechanism located between them.On the outer end of the sleeve C is formed a squared spindle L The pawlsL are adapted to be forced into engagement with the ratchet-wheel by anarm L carryinga wedge-shaped head L. This head rests between divergingouter ends of the pawls, and when the head is forced inward the ends ofthe pawls engaged by the head are forced downward to a point below thebracket L The leverL is formed with a curved tapering by a pin passingthrough the slot.

end which is pivotally connected to the central part of the rod L theupper end of the rod being curved forward and being pivotally connectedto a link L, which is pivoted between the plates of the lever. Alongitudinal slot is produced in the lower end of the link, the arm Lbeing connected to'the link The spindle L has a square bore, in whichfits a shaft 0 having a squared end L over whichfits the upturned end ofthe bracket L. C is perforated and threaded, and a threaded screw havingan end cap fits in same and holds the bracket L in position. A slot L isproduced in the foot-treadle, through which the rod L projects. Pins Lproject from the bolt L v and actuate the rod, swinging it back andforth as the bolt ismoved. WVhen lever L is drawn back, the pawlsdisengage the ratchet, a guard L", secured to the head L being adaptedto draw the rear ends of the pawls together. back, the lever L can beraised or lowered without the pawls engaging the wheel, and

' erated by a hand-lever M after actuating the lever-arm the foot can bepressed forward, returning the rod L to its normal position, andthewedge-head L will rise sufficiently, and the cables unwind from,

their spools, lowering the coffin into the grave, and the moment thebottom is reached, the pressure being removed from the blocks K, theywill become disengagedfrom the'sup porting-strap.

To facilitate the placing of the coffin upon the supporting-straps K", Iemploy sectional supporting-bars M, which are pivotally connected to theside members, and at their inner ends said sectional supporting-bars areprovided with interlocking heads M,-held in engagement by a bolt Madapted to be op- Each bar carries a roller M upon the upper facethereof, upon which the coffin or casket is rolled, it being understoodthat the said bars are moved together and interlocked, as most clearlyshown in Fig. 13, just before the coffin is rolled thereon, and afterthe coffin has been rolled thereon the hand-lever is operated,disengaging the bolts and permitting the sectional supportingbars todrop down, as clearly indicated in Fig;

der to conceal the mechanical appliances and also render-the appearanceof the grave less objectionable, I surround the same'with ornamentalscreens resting against the supportingbrackets and held thereto 'in anysuitable manner; but in the present instance the lower ends of thebrackets are shown as bent back' When the guard is drawn It is thus seenthat I provide a means of which a coffin can be slowly and evenlylowered into a grave.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that I provideyanexceedingly-simple and highly-efficient apparatus for the purposespecified, and by providing the end and side members to telescope intoeach other the frame may be quickly and easily adjusted to fitvarious-sized graves, as from the extreme large size of seven feet threeinches by three feet to four feet'three inches by one foot ten inchesand all intervening sizes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire'tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Ina burial apparatus, the combination with the central spoolsurrounded by a strap of leather, a brake-band adapted to engage theleather strap, the threaded rod and adjustable sleeve for operating thebrake-band, theratchet-wheel rigidly connected to the sleeve, a leverinclosing said wheel the rack segment connected to the lever, a pivotedtreadle and the spring-actuated locking-bolt connected to said treadle,as and for the purpose described.

2; In a burial apparatus the combination with the supporting-strapshaving end pieces, of the pivoted catches provided with heads andadapted to engage the said end pieces, the housing into which thecatches are pivoted, the cables passing through the tops of saidhousing, the block arranged upon the end of said cable, and providedwith laterallyprojecting extensions, and springs connected to the blockand adapted to bear upon the upper portion of the housing, as specified.

8. In a burial apparatus the combination with the tubular member havingopenings,

of the guide-rollers arranged in said member, a cable extending throughsaidmember and passing through the opening, a detachable plate carryinga roller, and the adjustable tension-plate adapted to bear upon thecable, as specified.

4:. In a burial apparatus, the sectional sup- IIO porting-bars carryingrollers and provided with the-interlocking ends, one of said bars havinga bolt adapted to secure the interlocking ends in engagement and thelever for disengaging said bolt, as specified.

5. A burial apparatus comprising a tubular end member,-a spool mountedtherein, a brake-band around the spool, a shaft connected thereto, asleeve thereon, a lever formed of two parallel plates rigidly secured tosaid sleeve, a ratchet-wheel secured between the lever-plates, pawlscarried by the lever and adapted to engage said ratchet, a segmentcarried by the lover, a foot-treadle,

and a bolt carried by the foot-treadle adapt-

